#law & justice

Article · 14 min read

Abortion remains one of the most controversial social, legal, religious and public-health issues in Africa. Different African societies have different cultural and religious beliefs concerning pregnancy and the ...

Article · 9 min read

Law on Paper, Justice in Practice: The Gap Between Legal Rights and Reality— SUNMISOLAHow far can a right written in law travel?A right can be written clearly in the Constitution and still feel very far away from the ...

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This paper examines the structural contradictions within Nigeria's federal system, arguing that while the 1999 Constitution proclaims federalism under Section 2(1), the distribution of legislative powers creates a centralized system that undermines state autonomy. Through a comparative analysis of Nigeria's constitutional evolution from 1963 to the present, the paper demonstrates a progressive concentration of power at the federal level, with the Exclusive Legislative List expanding from 45 items in 1963 to 68 items in 1999. This expansion, coupled with the doctrine of covering the field which grants federal legislation supremacy over state laws even on concurrent matters, has transformed Nigeria's federalism into what operates functionally as a unitary system. The paper critically analyzes the constitutional architecture of legislative lists, examining how the division of powers between the Exclusive, Concurrent, and Residual lists operates in practice. It argues that the extensive scope of federal powers, particularly over critical areas such as resource control, labor, police and security services, drugs and poisons, and census, has stripped states of meaningful autonomy and created fiscal dependence that contradicts fundamental principles of federalism. The centralization is traced to military rule, which consolidated power and shaped the current constitutional framework to favor federal supremacy. Drawing on comparative analysis with the United States federal system, the paper proposes comprehensive constitutional reforms to restore genuine federalism. Key recommendations include transferring five critical items from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List: census (Item 8), drugs and poisons (Item 21), labour (Item 34), mines and minerals including oilfields and natural gas (Item 39), and police and security services (Item 45). Such devolution would enhance state capacity to address local needs, promote inter-state competition, reduce ethnic tensions over resource control, and strengthen fiscal autonomy. The paper concludes that without fundamental restructuring of the legislative lists and enhancement of state fiscal autonomy, Nigeria's federal system will continue to operate as centralized governance masked by federal rhetoric, perpetuating inefficiency, regional grievances, and calls for secession. True federalism requires constitutional rebalancing that transforms states from dependent units into autonomous co-equals capable of self-governance.

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Domestic abuse, can be a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions ...

Article · 7 min read

(The scene opens in Alaba Market, there is hustling and bustling in the space, a young woman walks into a shopping complex with her boyfriend to do some shopping) Jessica: Babe! (Holding tightly unto her boyfriend Emmanuel's arm)…

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Article · 4 min read

‎ ‎ ‎Green Industrialization, in my own opinion is a state of economic development and growth that doesn't harm the environment and ensures sustainable development. It's basically harmonizing the environment and recycling all waste to…

Article · 6 min read

Gender Equality in Africa: Progress Made and the Road AheadIntroductionGender equality is no longer simply a matter of fairness; it is a prerequisite for Africa's sustainable development. Across the continent, women and ...

Article · 3 min read

Hey, glad you're here. Grab something to drink. I need to talk to you about something that's been sitting on my chest.You know that person on your timeline.Every time something blows up, they're there. Flag in the bio. ...

Article · 2 min read

I always had these thoughts that are going through my head everytime. I believe it is illegal and inhumane but they are parts of the so called customs and cultures in the world today.Back then I am been presented as a ...

Article · 4 min read

Internship to some is a modern form of slavery, but to young visionaries and optimists like me it is a golden opportunity to build yourself and add value to your CV and resume.Internship is a process whereby you ...

Article · 2 min read

I want to do law, I want to do law.That is the chants we hear from some law students not all. I was never one that said the chants I want to do law. I wanted to be a medical doctor and a proud one. I wanted to also do ...

Article · 5 min read

(Alexa and Toyin are chilling in their room)Alexa: Ahhh, ah ah, Toyin, Toyin(Taps Toyin hurriedly)Toyin: Wetin na... Alexa: Check the Faculty Group chat, Omo this is wickedness ooo (Worried and Panicking) there is fire ...

Article · 6 min read

HENRY: (After spanking Lauretta) You are so useless! Fool, Very useless fool.LAURETTA: (Crying) Henry! What have I done, is it because I did not cook in time, you know my condition, you know I'm two months pregnant ...

Article · 3 min read

It's the way Nigerians have been clamouring for state police like it's their birthright for me. State Police itself is not bad, but when a thing is perverted and loses its purpose, it becomes bad.The Nigerian Police ...

Article · 6 min read

(Effiong at Ubong's site preparing to leave after the inspection. He signals Ubong to come before he enters into his Honda Pilot). Effiong: Mr Ubong, I forgot to get the documents, in case of anything. (Ubong hands him some papers, then…

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Article · 5 min read

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Rape is an UNLAWFUL (emphasis on that) sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out for city [forcibly] or under threat of injury against a person's will or ...

Article · 2 min read

Can a government be legal and still be unjust?It sounds like a contradiction.After all, if an action is authorised by law, shouldn't that automatically make it right?Not necessarily.Law gives government power, but it ...

Article · 8 min read

( At an abandoned location at Amukoko, Lagos State, Richard and his guys are driving back from night club in their Lexus L700 when they come across a group of call girls standing on the lookout for customers) Richard: ...

Article · 3 min read

Life is so private that no one truly knows the treatment a man endures during a struggling marriage. Everyone talks about it, but no one pities the man when divorce happens. For divorcing her, he is always pictures as ...